A Technical Machine, or TM for short (Japanese: わざマシンMove Machine), is a machine used by Pokémon Trainers to teach a Pokémon a new move that it might not otherwise learn. Up until Generation V, TMs were good for only one use, unlike Hidden Machines, which can be used over and over again on many different Pokémon. TMs can be found on the ground or bought at department stores. Some are also given away by Gym Leaders as prizes for defeating them in addition to a Badge. Silph Co. has distributed a pamphlet containing information on TMs and HMs, indicating they are, at least partially, developed or produced by the company.

Mutually-compatible TMs (such as Flamethrower from a father Typhlosion to a baby Torchic) will also be passed down through breeding, though prior to Generation V there were several Pokémon that could only learn certain moves contained in TMs via breeding, such as Vulpix with Energy Ball.

The depiction of TMs has changed over time. In the TCG, they are shown as small boxes that the Poké Ball would be inserted into, but from FireRed and LeafGreen onwards, they have been depicted as discs that are inserted into the TM Case and the case itself teaches the Pokémon the move. Thus, the one-use nature of the TMs prior to Generation V can be seen as analogous to DVDs that destroy themselves after use.

Generation II

Generation II introduced several new TMs, a majority of which were new moves introduced in this generation. There remained 50 TMs, as some Generation I TMs were removed. Several moves that were contained in TMs in Generation II but were no longer contained within TMs during Generation III can be taught by a Move Tutor in Pokémon Emerald.

Generation III

In Generation III, more moves were introduced, and the TM list was again adjusted. The 50-TM limit remained, and several older moves became TMs—including some that lost their TM status between Generations I and II.

Generation IV

Due to the connectivity with the Generation III games, the 50-TM list was not redone in Generation IV. To include new moves and incorporate older moves as TMs, the TM list was expanded from 50 to 92, leaving the first 50 TMs intact. With the eight HMs, the number of machine-learnable moves in Generation IV was at an even 100.

Generation V

In Generation V, TMs have changed from being single-use items to having infinite uses, making them akin to HMs. In addition, when a Pokémon learns a move from a TM by overwriting an old one, the new move takes on the current PP of the forgotten move. The same applies to HMs. This is to prevent repeated usage of machines for the purpose of PP restoration. The prices of the buy-able TMs are also much higher, and they can no longer be held or sold. On the other hand in Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity, they can be sold. The number of TMs was expanded once again from 92 to 95. However, many of the 92 TMs found in Generation IV contain different moves. As there are only six HMs, there are 101 machine-learnable moves normally available in Generation V.

This was continued in FireRed and LeafGreen, where Trainers could encounter NPCs who would offer to teach a Pokémon a move that was not otherwise available to it. All but three of these moves (the elemental Hyper Beam variations) were available as TMs in Red, Blue, and Yellow; FireRed and LeafGreen use the updated TM list of Generation III.

In Emerald, the same moves were able to be learned via Move Tutors, with the addition of some outdated Generation II TMs as well.

Incompatible Pokémon

Although most Pokémon are able to learn a wide range of TM moves, there are 18 Pokémon who cannot learn any. Typically, these Pokémon are low in their evolutionary line or rely on a set moveset.

Returning moves

Several moves taught by TM in Generations I and/or II returned as TMs in Generation IV, but assigned with a different TM number. In Generation V, all but Endure and Sleep Talk maintained their TM status.

In the TCG

Techincal MachinesCards listed with a blue background are only legal to use in the current Expanded format.Cards listed with a silver background are legal to use in both the current Standard and Expanded formats.

Prior to Generation III, TMs given out by the starting region's Gym Leaders teach moves that no Pokémon learns naturally. There is one exception: in Pokémon Yellow, Red's Pikachu learns Thunderbolt in place of Swift.

Until Generation V, TM01 always taught a move that involved punching; it was Mega Punch in Generation I, DynamicPunch in Generation II, and Focus Punch in Generations III and IV. The current TM01, Hone Claws, still involves the appendages.

No TM has taught a different move in each of the five generations because every Generation III TM was retained for Generation IV.

24 of the 50 TMs in Generation I taught Normal-type moves, and no TMs taught Bug- or Ghost-type moves. In Generation II, all types had a TM except for Flying, and finally, in Generation III, Bug was again without a TM. Generation IV is the first generation in which there is at least one TM that teaches a move of each Pokémon type.